5 Ways to Network as a Real Estate Agent

Blog, Real Estate

Group of real estate agents having a conversation and networking in an office setting.

Learning how to network as a real estate agent is one of the most important skills you can develop. Networking allows you to learn from the experience of others, gain new clients, and promote yourself and your business. 

If you’re struggling to build your network, we recommend following our three golden rules. Focusing on the quality over quantity of your network, building relationships over time, and staying in touch with your contacts will help you strengthen your network and use it to your advantage.

However, if you think you’ve mastered the art of networking but are still struggling to find leads, it might be possible you aren’t leveraging your professional real estate network as well as you could be. To get the most out of your network, try focusing on maintaining your online presence, engaging with your local community, becoming a better listener, attending events and conferences, and following up with the contacts you meet. 

Maintain an active online presence

Developing an online presence is often one of the most overlooked networking opportunities. The first impression of a home no longer forms at the front door during a showing, it’s now being formed through a screen across digital platforms including websites, blogs, and social media sites. 

Building an online presence will help communicate your knowledge and expertise. You can use digital platforms to interact with others, share good press, and promote your properties. The more channels you’re active on, the more opportunity you have to connect with other professionals, clients, and leads! 

If you decide to pursue online channels as a growth tactic, make sure all of your contact information is accurate and up-to-date as you begin building and leveraging your real estate network.

Engage with your local community 

Being active in your community will not only expand your client base, but it will also help you better understand the neighborhoods where your properties are located and the people who live in them. 

Real estate professionals can engage with members of their community in multiple ways. Try sponsoring local events (like little league teams or local festivals), hosting workshops, speaking at events, or even developing partnerships with local businesses. You might also consider volunteering for causes or organizations that you care about. Even if you’re not actively networking, you can still connect with like-minded people and support important causes.

Getting involved with your community helps to deepen your relationships with other community members. Building relationships with community members might encourage members of the community to keep you top of mind when they have real estate opportunities.

Become a better listener 

As you begin networking, make an effort to talk less and listen more. Most people love talking about themselves! You’d be surprised how much valuable information can be shared through a single conversation. Even in business networking settings, most people are happy to share their thoughts on buying, maintaining, or selling property. 

If you’re able to actively listen to what someone has to say, you might be able to help them identify challenges. Whether you’re offering advice on selling a home or showing them potential real estate opportunities before they hit the market, your active listening skills can help solve problems your contact didn’t even know they had. 

Attend networking events and conferences 

Attending networking events and conferences are about engaging with the people who are there and building a mutually beneficial relationship. As a real estate professional, there are a plethora of events to choose from. 

For example, if you’re looking to make a career in residential real estate, you might focus on local, family-friendly events where your target market is often found. However, if you’re more interested in commercial real estate, you should consider attending business expos instead. 

Open yourself up to events and opportunities that might be outside of your traditional market. Real estate affects people both at work and at home. So, people you meet through business networking events might provide you with residential real estate opportunities too. 

Follow up with prospective contacts 

Networking can be exhausting. It takes a great deal of time and effort to meet the right people and build relationships with them. Even the most enthusiastic prospect might forget to call or email you the next day. That’s why it’s important for you to follow-up and follow-through with the people you’ve met through networking.

Whether that means sending an email, making a phone call, or scheduling a coffee, your new contacts will appreciate your effort, especially if your follow up is personalized. Make sure you’re taking notes about your new friends immediately after meeting them. Your growing network will feel even more special when you ask about something you discussed when you met. For example, “When we talked, you mentioned your dog was sick. How is Spot doing now?” Being proactive, pleasant, and personable will position you as a reliable and trusted source in the real estate industry.

At the end of the day, networking is all about putting yourself out there and letting people know you can help them with any and all of their real estate needs. Being strategic about how to grow, maintain, and leverage your real estate network can help grow you and your business for years to come.

If you’re interested in starting your career as a real estate agent, check out our ebook The Blueprint to Becoming a Real Estate Agent for free insider knowledge and career development insights. Download it today and learn why over one million professionals have chosen Hondros as their real estate school.

 

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